Portable electric lantern.



W. GRETHER.

PORTABLE ELECTRIC LANTERN.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 27. I918.

Patented Dec. 3, 1918.

2 QM m W INVENTOR.

5i; ATTORNEY.

Qm FE UH i Mm Patented Dw. 5), 918.

' 2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

M n 4 M 5 w m F 8 9 8 w m. WM 8 N m 6 6 I 7 mw I I 3 7 I 5 K 5 2 Z M Z 4 f r M2 & lllllllllllllllll a 2 6 a M M? 9 m 4 o 7 m H 5 3 6 6 3 4! a 4 .3 1 4 5 M 4 a m V N M W K H M 4 1 H M iNVENTOR.

A TTORNE Y WITNESSES W WILLIAM GRETHER, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

PORTABLE ELECTRIC LANTERN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 3, 1918.

Application filed June 27, 1918.- Serial No. 242,241.

T all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, IVILL'IAM GRETHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Elec- 1 trio Lanterns, of which the following is a vide a lantern having two compartments forming an air-tight and gas-proof which are completely separated from each other, the rear compartment being adapted to receive a storage battery and the front one compartment for the reflector.

Another object of the invention is to provide a portable electric lantern having the focusing device in front, whereby the lantern may be carried by one hand and the fo- Focusing device operated bythe other. cu'sing devices placed in the central and rear portions of the lantern, are difficult to operate without setting the lantern down.

Another object of the invention is to provide for the lantern, a handle which equally distributes its weight'and by which it may be carried in a natural position. The handle does not have to be removed to charge the storage battery, and the lantern may be carried by said handle about the charging station with the cover removed. By swinging the handle about its hinge, the-storage battery may be removed.

Another objectof the invention is to provide a switch at the top of the lantern, that may be operated by the same hand that carries it.

"Another object of the invention is to provide means for effecting an instantaneous electric connection between thebattery and the lamp when the cover is placed upon the case, and as quickly breaking the connection when the cover i removed.

Another object of the invention is to provide means in the cover for shedding water from the interior and pern'iitting the escape of gas. Another object of the invention is'to pro-.

vide means at the front of the lantern to prevent its tipping; and if dropped, to protect its weaker parts.

Other important and incidental objects will be brought out in the following specification and particularly pointed out in the subjoined claims.

The preferred form of embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of my improved portable electric lantern. Fig. 2 is an end view "of the rack and pinion device for obtaining the proper focus. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the lantern. And Fig. 4 is a top plan view thereof.

Throughout the specification and drawings, similar reference characters denote corresponding parts.

In a detailed description of the preferred form of. embodiment of my invention, the

numeral 1 designates the lantern casing which is preferably constructed of aluminum. This casing is divided bya vertical wall 2, into .two compartments 3 and 4, the

rear compartment at being preferably rectangular in transverse section. The front compartment comprises a neck portion 5 which extends outwardly from the front 'top portion of the case at right angles thereto, terminating inan outwardly flaring reflector support ti, preferably of bell shape. The compartment 4' terminates at its forward middle portion in a knee 7 to prevent it from tipping forward when placed upon a supporting surface; and to assist in protecting the front portion of the lantern from injury should the latter be dropped.

The rear compartment 4 of the lantern casing 1 contains a storage battery 8, preferably of thetwo-cell, four-volt type. The compartment I is adapted to receive a cover 9 having ledge bosses 10 through which wing head screws 11 are passed into corresponding bosses 12 on said compartment top, said wing head screws enabling the cover to be applied or'removed from the case without the use of a screw driver or other means.

When the cover 9. is applied to the top of the compartment 4, an instantaneous electrical connection is made between the battery terminals 13 and a wire 14 leading to a lamp socket l5, and a wire 1.6 leading to a switch 17, by the following means. (See Figs'l' and 4.) Secured by means of screws 18 to the top of the cover 9, above the battery terminals 13, is an insulating piece 19,

of screws 25.. A similar .insulating piece 26 is secured in a recessed portion of the compartment 4, below the insulating piece 23,

' and contains two spring plunger contacts 27 adapted to be engaged by the contacts 22 I When theco ver 9 is applied, for the purposeof conducting current from the battery. 8 to the said spring contacts 27. From one spring contact 27 :in the latter, the wire 14 leads to the lamp socket 15, while the other contact 27 thereof receives the .wire 16 from the switch 17 said lamp socket and switch beingdirectly connected by a wire 28'. (See Fig.) It will thus be seen, that by virtue of the spring-contact insulating pieces 19, Y23 and 26, an electric circuit will be instantaneously closed.throu'gh the battery, lamp and switch, the moment the cover 9 is applied to the top of thecasing 1, and that this circuit will be broken the instant said cover is removed. To apply or remove said 1 cover it is therefore only necessary toproperly position the latter on the case and insert or remove the wing head screws 11, and

no other adjustments need be made to close or open the circuit between the battery and the lamp.

The switch 17, which is preferably of'the Cutler Hammer type, is operated by a push rod 17 which extends above the neck portion 5 of the lantern-case, whereby the switch m y beconveniently operated by the same hand that carries the lantern.

. In order toanake the compartment 4 weatherproof, a gasket 29, preferably constructed of sheet rubber, is placed between the cover 9 and the top of said compartment.

The body of the storage battery 8, extending to the top of'the casing, is-preVented by said gasket from rattling.

' On the exterior top middle portion of the rear wall of the lantern casing 1, is a lug 30 to which is hinged, by wing-head screws 31, the bifurcated rear end of a curved handle 32. The front end ofthe latter is bi furcated for removable connection, by ineans of wing-head screws 33, to a lug 34 on the middle top portion of the reflector sup port 6. The handle 32 extends from the extreme front, to the extreme rear portion of the lantern to enable the latter to be carried by one hand in its natural position and at the same time distribute equally thereon the weight of the lantern. Toreniove or insert the storage battery 8, it is only necessary to remove the wing-head screws 33 and turn the handle back about its rear hinge, or

said handle may be hinged in front without departing from the spirit of the invention.

(See Figs. 1 and 3).

Provided in the rear wall of the cover 9 is a vent hole 35 disposed at an approximate angle of 45 to shed water away from the interior of the device and to provide an outlet for any gas that may accumulate in the compartment 4. (See Fig. 1).

' Coming now to a description of the ele-' ments' within the compartment 3, the nu- "meral 36 designates a preferably silverplated parabolic reflector terminating rearwardly in a hollow neck portion 37 preferably spun thereon. This neck portion 37 provides a tubular guide through which 7 the lamp socket 15 islongitudinally movable. Secured within the socket 15 is a referably tipless bulb, 4-volt lamp 39 in ront of which a clear glass lens 40 is maintained by a. circular lens holder 41. As described in my former application Serial No. 179,334, this holder has external peripheral bosses 42 through which screws 43 are passed into corresponding bosses 44 formed on the rim of the reflector support 6, to firmly, yet re movably, secure the lens holder 41 to the latter. An annular copper-asbestos gasket 45 is interposed between the lens holder 41 and the reflector support 6 to make a waterproof and air-tight compartment for the reflector. (See Fig. 1).

For the purpose of moving-thelamp 39 forward to secure a diffused or flood light,

or to the rear for the purpose of obtaining a spotlight, of varying intensity, the following described focusing device is prow vided in the front compartment 3. Referring again toFig. 1, there is secured to the rear portion of the socket 15, an Lshaped piece 46 whose foot portion is screwed to a. short rack 47 provided with a downwardly extending guide flange 48. on each side there- .of. (See Fig. 2). The rack 47 is adapted to be engaged from below, between the flanges 48 48, by a small pinion 49 fixedly secured to a screw rod 50 which loosely extends through a bore in a lug 5-1 on the lower neck portion of the lantern casing, which'may be conveniently turned by one hand, while the lantern is held in .the other.

It, is therefore unnecessary to set the lantern down to operate the focusing device, as in cases where the focusing devices are provided in the rear portion of the lantern.

WVhen the screw rod 50 is turned, itwill move the rack 47 forwardly or rearwardly, depending upon he direction of its rotation, to obtain the desired focus for the lamp.

-pose of firmly holding the lamp 39 at the selected focus.

To prevent the ignition of leaking gas or explosives by sparks that might be produced in the reflector should the lens 40 in any way become broken, the following safety device is provided to break the lamp circuit as described in my before mentioned application Serial No. 17 9,334. Secured by screws 54 to the interior rim portion of the lens holder 41, is a wire 55 that extends from one of said screws to the other in approximate alinement with the diameter of the lens 40. The wire 55 is preferably successively arched as shown in Fig. 1. To the middle part of the narrow central arched portion of said wire the pointed end of a conicalshaped, spiral spring 56 is secured, the rear portionrofwhich engages the front part of the lamp bulb 39. The wire 55 serves to firmly and fixedly hold the spring 56 at the proper point in front of the lamp bulb 39.

Bearing against the rear portion of the lamp socket 15 is a similar conical spring 57, the rear end of which is secured by a screw 58 to the partition 2. .Each of said springs serves as a resilient bufi'er for the lamp during its forward or rearward movement, said forward movement of the lamp being limited by the engagement of the front part of the rack 47 with the reflector 36, and the rearward movement of said lamp being limited by the engagement of the rear end of the rack 47 with the partition 2. Should the lens 40 be broken inany way. the spring 56 will have a sufficient unrestrained forward movement to permit the lamp cir- (-uit to be broken as described in my aforesaid application, thereby preventing the ignition of any gases that may find their way into the reflector.

Extending from side to side on the rear wall of the lantern casing 1. is a boss 58 to which is preferably screwed a bracket plate 59 whose humped central portion is adapted to receive atongued support of any suitable design (not shown).

I. do not wish to be limited to the details of construction and arrangement herein shown and described, and any changes or modifications may be made therein within the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described my invention, L claim:

1. A portable electric lantern comprisi. )j a casing having two compartments, a battery in one compartment and an electric lampin the other, a removable cover for the battery compartment, a contact piece within said cover adapted to engage the terminals of said battery when the cover is applied to said case, a contact piece secured within the connection is established between said battery and lamp, and again broken when said cover is removed.

. 2. A portable electric lantern'comprising a casing having two compartments, a hat tery in one compartment and an electric lamp in the other, electricmeans connecting said battery and'lamp, a cover for the bat-- tery compartment through which said means extend, the lamp compartment comprising a narrow neck portion having an outwardly flaring mouth, a switch in said neck portion in circuit with said lamp and battery, and a push rod extending upwardly through said neck portion for operating said switch.

A portable electric lantern comprising a casing divided 'into two compartments, a lamp in one compartment and a battery in the other compartment, s'aid lamp compart- Inent comprising a narrow neck, portion extending outwardly from-the top of the battery compartment and terminating in anoutwardly flaring mouth, and a handle hingedly secured to the top rear portion of the battery compartment and extending forwardly for removable connection to the top edge of said outwardly flaring mouth portion of the lamp compartment. 1

4. A portable electric lantern comprising a casing divided into a front and rear compartment, a lamp in the front compartment and av battery in the rear. compartment,

focusing device may be operated by one 11$ hand and the lantern carried by the other.

5. A portable electric lantern comprising a casing divided into two compartments. a

lamp in the front compartment and a. baty tery 1n the rear compartment, electric means 11b for connecting said battery and lamp, a refiector behindsaidlamp in the front coma partment, a socket for the lamp longitudinally. movable through said reflector. a rack secured to said socket, a pinion for impart 129 ing a longitudinal movement: to said ack, and a screw rod forturning said pinion, extending through a side of the front comparh. ment. Y 6. A portable electric lantern comprising a casing, a reflector support projecting from the front portion of said casing. a longitudinally movable lamp in said reflector casing, a lens in front of said lamp. an interior wire extending from one side ofsaid lens to the 130 other, and a spring attached to themiddle portion of said Wire, for engagement, at its rear end, with said lamp for the purpose described.

7. A portable electric lantern comprising a casing, arefiector support projecting from the upper front portion of said casing, and a projecting knee on the lower front portion of'said casing to prevent said lantern from tipping forwardly when placed on a sup- 10' 

